DISTRIBUTED COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (DCSs) SUPPORTING VIRTUALIZATION OF REMOTE UNITS AS CITIZENS BAND RADIO SERVICE (CBRS) DEVICES (CBSDs)

ABSTRACT

Distributed communications systems (DCSs) supporting virtualization of remote units as citizens band radio service (CBRS) devices (CBSDs) are disclosed. In examples discussed herein, the DCS includes a routing circuit that is coupled to a number of remote units configured to communicate a downlink communications signal(s) and an uplink communications signal(s) in one or more CBRS channels. In this regard, a CBRS control circuit is provided to present each of the remote units as a uniquely identifiable virtual CBSD to a spectrum access system (SAS) and facilitate communications between the SAS and the remote units. As such, the SAS may be able spoofed to treat the uniquely identifiable virtual CBSD as real CBSDs to uniquely identify each of the remote units for CBRS channel assignment and/or transmission power control. As a result, it may be possible to support CBRS in the DCS in compliance with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/908,066 entitled DISTRIBUTEDCOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS (DCSS) SUPPORTING VIRTUALIZATION OF REMOTE UNITSAS CITIZENS BAND RADIO SERVICE (CBRS) DEVICES (CBSDS), filed Sep. 30,2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates generally to distributed communications systemsthat are configured to support citizens band radio service (CBRS), andmore particularly to a distributed radio communications system that isconfigured to enable communications between a CBRS spectum access system(SAS) and a number of remote units.

Wireless communications is rapidly growing, with ever-increasing demandsfor high-speed mobile data communication. As an example, local areawireless services (e.g., so-called “wireless fidelity” or “WiFi”systems) and wide area wireless services are being deployed in manydifferent types of areas (e.g., coffee shops, airports, libraries,etc.). Communications systems have been provided to transmit and/ordistribute communications signals to wireless devices called “clients,”“client devices,” or “wireless client devices,” which must reside withinthe wireless range or “cell coverage area” in order to communicate withan access point device. Example applications where communicationssystems can be used to provide or enhance coverage for wireless servicesinclude public safety, cellular telephony, wireless local accessnetworks (LANs), location tracking, and medical telemetry insidebuildings and over campuses. One approach to deploying a communicationssystem involves the use of radio node/base station that transmitscommunications signals distributed over a physical communications mediumremote unit forming radio frequency (RF) antenna coverage areas, alsoreferred to as “antenna coverage areas.” The remote units each containor are configured to couple to one or more antennas configured tosupport the desired frequency(ies) of the radio node to provide theantenna coverage areas. Antenna coverage areas can have a radius in therange from a few meters up to twenty meters, as an example. Anotherexample of a communications system includes radio nodes, such as basestations, that form cell radio access networks, wherein the radio nodesare configured to transmit communications signals wirelessly directly toclient devices without being distributed through intermediate remoteunits.

For example, FIG. 1 is an example of a distributed communications system(DCS) 100 that includes a radio node 102 configured to support one ormore service providers 104(1)-104(N) as signal sources (also known as“carriers” or “service operators”—e.g., mobile network operator (MNO))and wireless client devices 106(1)-106(W). For example, the radio node102 may be a base station (eNodeB) that includes modem functionality andis configured to distribute communications signal streams 108(1)-108(S)to the wireless client devices 106(1)-106(W) based on downlinkcommunications signals 110(1)-10(N) received from the service providers104(1)-104(N). The communications signal streams 108(1)-108(S) of eachrespective service provider 104(1)-104(N) in their different spectrumsare radiated through antennas 112 to the wireless client devices106(1)-106(W) in communication range of the antennas 112. For example,the antenna 112 may be an antenna array. As another example, the radionode 102 in the DCS 100 in FIG. 1 can be a small cell radio access node(“small cell”) that is configured to support multiple service providers104(1)-104(N) by distributing a communications signal stream108(1)-108(S) for the multiple service providers 104(1)-104(N) based onrespective downlink communications signals 110(1)-110(N) received from arespective evolved packet core (EPC) network CN₁-CN_(N) of the serviceprovider 104(1)-104(N) through interface connections. The radio node 102includes a radio circuit 118(1)-118(N) for each service provider104(1)-104(N) that is configured to create multiple simultaneous signalbeams (“beams”) 120(1)-120(N) for the communications signal streams108(1)-108(S) to serve multiple wireless client devices 106(1)-106(W).For example, the multiple beams 120(1)-120(N) may supportmultiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications.

The radio node 102 of the DCS 100 in FIG. 1 may be configured to supportservice providers 104(1)-104(N) that have different frequency spectrumand do not share spectrum. Thus in this instance, the downlinkcommunications signals 110(1)-110(N) from the different serviceproviders 104(1)-104(N) do not interfere with each other even iftransmitted by the radio node 102 at the same time. The radio node 102may also be configured as a shared spectrum communications system wherethe multiple service providers 104(1)-104(N) have shared spectrum. Inthis regard, the capacity supported by the radio node 102 for the sharedspectrum is split (i.e. shared) between the multiple service providers104(1)-104(N) for providing services to the subscribers. An example of ashared spectrum is the citizens band radio service (CBRS). CBRS is a“cellular like” service that is provided under a shared spectrum schemein the 3.55-3.70 GigaHertz (GHz) frequency band, which therefore has abandwidth of 150 MegaHertz (MHz). FIG. 2A illustrates the 150 MegaHertz(150 MHz) frequency band 200 between 3.55 GHz and 3.70 GHz to which theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) is opening access as the CBRS.The radio node 102 in FIG. 1 may be configured to support CBRS as anexample. As shown in FIG. 2B, the overall 150 MHz CBRS frequency band200 is currently divided into a lower 100 MHz section 202 and an upper50 MHz section 204, with the lower 100 MHz section 202 being used byNavy radars in coastal areas and space-to-earth fixed-satellite service(FSS) stations. The upper 50 MHz section 204 is currently used by WiMaxfixed wireless baseband services, three ground radar stations,eighty-six grandfathered space-to-earth FSS stations, and Navy radar forships located farther than 44 miles from the coast. However, asillustrated in FIG. 2C, the FCC is opening up fifteen (15) 10-MHzunpaired channels 206(1)-206(15) for radio services through citizensbroadband radio service devices (CBSDs), which are devices configured tooperate within the CBRS frequencies and according to CBRS rules. TheCBSDs, or parts thereof, may be incorporated in radio nodes within radioaccess networks (RANs) along with other devices and networks. In thisregard as illustrated in FIG. 2C, in the new CBRS framework, the 150 MHzCBRS frequency band 200 will be divided into fifteen 10-MHz channels206(1)-206(15). Other divisions are also possible, and a division tofifteen 10-MHz channels 206(1)-206(15) is illustrated as an example ofone possible division. Channels 206(1)-206(10) in the lower 100 MHzsection 202 will operate according to a three-tier model, and channels206(11)-206(15) in the upper 50 MHz section 204 will operate accordingto a two-tier model.

Spectrum allocation or channel allocation in a CBRS communicationssystem is performed by a technique or procedures that occurindependently or semi-independently of service providers by a SpectrumAllocation System (SAS). As an example, a CBRS system has 150 MHz ofspectrum, and has 1,500 possible E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency ChannelNumbers (EARFCNs). Thus, for example, if a CBRS communications system isoperated in a stadium or arena by a third party, the CBRS system may bedynamically assigned a channel, or operating spectrum, by a SAS. If theradio node 102 in FIG. 1 is configured to support CBRS, the radio node102 will have an interface to a managing SAS. Based on the location ofthe radio node 102 and its license grade, the SAS instructs whichchannel frequencies the radio node 102 should use and at what maximumtransmission power level.

The radio node 102 in FIG. 1 can also be coupled to a distributedcommunications system, such as a distributed antenna system (DAS), suchthat the radio circuits 118(1)-118(N) remotely distribute the downlinkcommunications signals 110(1)-110(N) of the multiple service providers104(1)-104(N) to remote units. The remote units each include an antennathat may be similar to the antenna 112 in FIG. 1 for radiating thedownlink communications signals 110(1)-110(N) to subscribers. Thus, inthis scenario, if the radio node 102 were configured to support a sharedspectrum such as CBRS, every restriction enforced by the SAS on theradio node 102 as a result of spectrum coordination would affect all theremote units of the distributed communications system coupled to theradio node 102. In other words, whichever channels have been dynamicallyallocated by the SAS to the radio node 102 for the shared spectrum arethe only channels of the shared spectrum that will be distributed to theremote units of the DCS 100 coupled to the radio node 102. Also, if theradio node 102 in FIG. 1 is configured as a shared spectrum system tosupport service providers 104(1)-104(N) having shared spectrum, at anygiven time and location, the shared spectrum of the radio node 102 canonly be used by a single service provider 104(1)-104(N). Otherwise, thedownlink communications signals 110(1)-110(N) in the shared spectrumfrom multiple active service providers 104(1)-104(N) will interfere witheach other. Moreover, downlink communications signals 110(1)-110(N) inthe shared spectrum may interfere with each other when communicated tothe same remote unit in a coupled distributed communications system.Also, downlink communications signals 110(1)-110(N) in the sharedspectrum communicated to the remote units may cause a subset of theremote units in the DCS 100 to experience interference with each other.

Notably, the FCC does not explicitly define how the DCS 100, whichincludes multiple transmitting nodes such as the radio node 102 and theremote units, should be architectured to support CBRS. However,according to FCC part 96.3, if a CBSD includes multiple nodes ornetworks of nodes, the CBSD requirements as discussed above would beapplicable to each of the transmitting nodes. However, in the DCS 100,the radio node 102 and the remote units may be configured to operatebased on a common cell identification. In this regard, if the commoncell identification is used to identify the radio node 102, then the SASmay not be able to uniquely differentiate each of the remote units fromthe radio node 102. As a result, it may become difficult for the SAS tomanage CBRS channels and regulate maximum transmission power for theremote units in the DCS 100. AS such, it may be desirable for the DCS100 to support CBRS based on the requirements of FCC part 96.3.

No admission is made that any reference cited herein constitutes priorart. Applicant expressly reserves the right to challenge the accuracyand pertinency of any cited documents.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein include distributed communications systems(DCSs) supporting virtualization of remote units as citizens band radioservice (CBRS) devices (CBSDs). In examples discussed herein, a DCSincludes a routing circuit that is coupled to a number of remote unitsconfigured to communicate a downlink communications signal(s) and anuplink communications signal(s) in one or more CBRS channels. Forexample, the DCS may be or include a distributed antenna system (DAS).Notably, the routing circuit may correspond to a CBRS device (CBSD) cellidentification(s) that is configured to identify a CBRS signal node(s).Thus, all of the remote units in the DCS may appear as a single CBSD,making it difficult or impossible for a spectrum access system (SAS) tounambiguously identify each remote unit for channel assignment and/ortransmit power adjustment to support CBRS. In this regard, in exemplaryaspects disclosed herein, a CBRS control circuit is provided to presenteach of the remote units as a uniquely identifiable virtual CBSD (e.g.,a software-based identification logically mapped to each of the remoteunits) to the SAS and facilitate communications between the SAS and theremote units. As such, the SAS may be spoofed to treat the uniquelyidentifiable virtual CBSD as real CBSDs to uniquely identify each of theremote units for CBRS channel assignment and/or transmission powercontrol. As a result, it may be possible to support CBRS in the DCS incompliance with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)requirements.

One exemplary embodiment of the disclosure relates to a DCS. The DCSincludes a routing circuit corresponding to at least one CBSD cellidentification. The routing circuit is coupled to a plurality of remoteunits configured to communicate at least one downlink communicationssignal and at least one uplink communications signal in one or more CBRSchannels. The DCS also includes a CBRS control circuit coupled to therouting circuit. The CBRS control circuit is configured to generate aplurality of CBRS parameter sets configured to uniquely identify theplurality of remote units as a plurality of virtual CBSDs, respectively.The CBRS control circuit is also configured to communicate the pluralityof CBRS parameter sets to a SAS coupled to the CBRS control circuit. TheCBRS control circuit is also configured to receive at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set corresponding to at least one selectedremote unit among the plurality of remote units from the SAS. The CBRScontrol circuit is also configured to provide the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set to the routing circuit to cause the at leastone selected remote unit to operate based on the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set.

An additional exemplary embodiment of the disclosure relates to a methodfor supporting CBRS in a DCS. The method includes generating a pluralityof CBRS parameter sets configured to uniquely identify a plurality ofremote units in the DCS as a plurality of virtual CBSDs, respectively.The plurality of remote units is configured to communicate at least onedownlink communications signal and at least one uplink communicationssignal in one or more CBRS channels. The method also includescommunicating the plurality of CBRS parameter sets to a SAS. The methodalso includes receiving at least one CBRS configuration parameter setcorresponding to at least one selected remote unit among the pluralityof remote units from the SAS. The method also includes causing the atleast one selected remote unit to operate based on the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detaileddescription which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing theembodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof,as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are merely exemplary, and areintended to provide an overview or framework to understand the natureand character of the claims.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), andtogether with the description serve to explain principles and operationof the various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed communicationssystem (DCS) that includes a conventional single operator radio nodeconfigured to support distribution of communications signals formultiple service providers:

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate existing and proposed spectrum allocation schemeswithin the citizens broadband radio service (CBRS);

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary DCS configured accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure to support CBRS in accordanceto the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) CBRS requirements:

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary process that can be employed by aCBRS control circuit in the DCS of FIG. 3 to support CBRS in compliancewith the FCC requirements;

FIGS. 5A-5C are schematic diagrams providing an exemplary illustrationof clustering and reclustering of a number of remote units in the DCS ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary mobile telecommunicationsenvironment that includes an exemplary radio access network (RAN) thatincludes a mobile network operator (MNO) macrocell employing a radionode, a shared spectrum cell employing a radio node, an exemplary smallcell RAN employing a multi-operator radio node located within anenterprise environment, wherein any of the radio nodes can employ or becoupled to a shared spectrum DCS configured to selectively routechannels of shared spectrum downlink communications signals of multipleservice providers to remote units based on shared spectrum inputinformation used to determine spectrum usage coordination between theremote units, including but not limited to the DCS of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a representation of an exemplarycomputer system that can be included in or interface with any of thecomponents in the DCS of FIG. 3, including a CBRS control circuit, arouting circuit, a spectrum usage coordination circuit, and remoteunits, wherein the exemplary computer system is configured to executeinstructions from an exemplary computer-readable medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein include distributed communications systems(DCSs) supporting virtualization of remote units as citizens band radioservice (CBRS) devices (CBSDs). In examples discussed herein, a DCSincludes a routing circuit that is coupled to a number of remote unitsconfigured to communicate a downlink communications signal(s) and anuplink communications signal(s) in one or more CBRS channels. Forexample, the DCS may be or include a distributed antenna system (DAS).Notably, the routing circuit may correspond to a CBRS device (CBSD) cellidentification(s) that is configured to identify a CBRS signal node(s).Thus, all of the remote units in the DCS may appear as a single CBSD,making it difficult or impossible for a spectrum access system (SAS) tounambiguously identify each remote unit for channel assignment and/ortransmit power adjustment to support CBRS. In this regard, in exemplaryaspects disclosed herein, a CBRS control circuit is provided to presenteach of the remote units as a uniquely identifiable virtual CBSD (e.g.,a software-based identification logically mapped to each of the remoteunits) to the SAS and facilitate communications between the SAS and theremote units. As such, the SAS may be spoofed to treat the uniquelyidentifiable virtual CBSD as real CBSDs to uniquely identify each of theremote units for CBRS channel assignment and/or transmission powercontrol. As a result, it may be possible to support CBRS in the DCS incompliance with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)requirements.

In this regard. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary DCS 300configured according to an embodiment of the present disclosure tosupport CBRS in accordance to the FCC CBRS requirements. The DCS 300includes a routing circuit 302, which can be a digital routing circuitfor example. In examples discussed herein, the routing circuit 302 iscoupled between at least one CBRS signal node 304, for example a digitalbaseband unit (BBU), and a number of remote units 306(1)-306(N). In anon-limiting example, the CBRS signal node 304 is associated with atleast one CBSD cell identification configured to uniquely identify theCBRS signal node 304. As such, the CBRS signal node 304 may function asa CBSD in the DCS 300. Accordingly, the remote units 306(1)-306(N) areconfigured to communicate at least one downlink communications signal308D and at least one uplink communications signal 308U in one or moreCBRS channels CH₁-CH_(M) based on the CBSD cell identification.

The routing circuit 302 may be coupled to the remote units 306(1)-306(N)via a number of communications mediums 310(1)-310(N), which can beoptical-fiber based communications mediums for example. The routingcircuit 302 may be configured to receive the downlink communicationssignal 308D from the CBRS signal node 304 and route the downlinkcommunications signal 308D to the remote units 306(1)-306(N). Therouting circuit 302 may be further configured to receive the uplinkcommunications signal 308U from the remote units 306(1)-306(N) andprovide the uplink communications signal 308U to the CBRS signal node304. Notably, the remote units 306(1)-306(N) may be clustered (e.g.,logically grouped) based on coverage and/or throughput requirements ofthe DCS 300. Each cluster may be configured to support a subset or allof the CBRS channels CH₁-CH_(M). As such, the routing circuit 302 may beconfigured to route the downlink communications signal 308D to theremote units 306(1)-306(N) based on respective CBRS channel assignmentof the remote units 306(1)-306(N).

The DCS 300 may be coupled to a SAS 312. As required by the FCC, the SAS312 is configured to coordinate CBRS spectrum usage between holders ofdifferent license grades. Furthermore, according to FCC part 96.3, theSAS 312 also needs to coordinate CBRS spectrum usage in a multi-nodeCBRS system, such as the DCS 300. In this regard, it may be necessaryfor the SAS 312 to regulate CBRS spectrum usage and/or controltransmission power among the remote units 306(1)-306(N) in the DCS 300.However, since the remote units 306(1)-306(N) in the DCS 300 areconfigured to operate based on the CBSD cell identification associatedwith the CBRS signal node 308, the SAS 312 may not be able to uniquelyidentify each of the remote units 306(1)-306(N), thus making itdifficult for the SAS 312 to regulate CBRS spectrum usage and/or controltransmission power among the remote units 306(1)-306(N) in the DCS 300.As such, it may be necessary to make the remote units 306(1)-306(N)uniquely identifiable to the SAS 312 such that the DCS 300 can beconfigured to operate in the CBRS channels CH₁-CH_(M) in compliance withthe FCC requirements.

In this regard, the DCS 300 can be configured to include a CBRS controlcircuit 314, which can be a circuit incorporating a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), as examples.In one embodiment, the CBRS control circuit 314 can be provided in aseparate circuit (e.g., printed circuit board) from the routing circuit302. In an alternative embodiment, the CBRS control circuit 314 and therouting circuit 302 can be integrated into an integrated routing circuit316. It should be appreciated that the CBRS control circuit 314 can alsobe integrated with other functional circuits in the DCS 300 withoutaltering functionality and operational principles of the CBRS controlcircuit 314.

As discussed in detail below, the CBRS control circuit 314 can beconfigured to bridge communications between the SAS 312 and the remoteunits 306(1)-306(N). In one aspect, the CBRS control circuit 314 maypresent the remote units 306(1)-306(N) to the SAS 312 as uniquelyidentifiable virtual CBSDs, thus allowing the SAS 312 to manage the CBRSchannels CH₁-CH_(M) and perform transmission power control for each ofthe remote units 306(1)-306(N). In another aspect, the CBRS controlcircuit 314 can receive from the SAS 312 a CBRS configuration parameterset(s) 318 for a selected remote unit(s) among the remote units306(1)-306(N). Accordingly, the CBRS control circuit 314 can cause theselected remote unit(s) to operate based on the CBRS configurationparameter set(s) 318. Notably, the CBRS control circuit 314 may causethe selected remote unit(s) to operate based on the CBRS configurationparameter set(s) 318 either by directly controlling the selected remoteunit(s) or via the routing circuit 302. By using the CBRS controlcircuit 314 to bridge the communications between the SAS 312 and theremote units 306(1)-306(N), the DCS 300 can be configured to communicatethe downlink communications signal 308D and the uplink communicationssignal 308U in the CBRS channels CH₁-CH_(M) in compliance with the FCCrequirements.

The CBRS control circuit 314 may be configured to generate a number ofCBRS parameter sets 320(1)-320(N) to uniquely identify the remote units306(1)-306(N) as the virtual CBSDs, respectively. Accordingly, the CBRScontrol circuit 314 communicates the CBRS parameter sets 320(1)-320(N)to the SAS 312 such that the SAS 312 can unambiguously identify each ofthe remote units 306(1)-306(N) based on the CBRS parameter sets320(1)-320(N), respectively. In a non-limiting example, the remote units306(1)-306(N) are configured to provide a number of remote unitparameter sets 322(1)-322(N) to the CBRS control circuit 314, eitherdirectly or via the routing circuit 302. Each of the remote unitparameter sets 322(1)-322(N) can include such parameters as remote unitphysical location, remote unit location number, remote unit serialidentification, and/or remote unit antenna above-ground-level (AGL) thatcan be used, either individually or in combination, to uniquely identifythe remote units 306(1)-306(N). Accordingly, the CBRS control circuit314 may include the remote unit parameter sets 322(1)-322(N) in the CBRSparameter sets 320(1)-320(N), respectively.

The CBRS control circuit 314 can be coupled to the CBRS signal node 304,either directly or via a CBRS service node 324, to receive a CBSDparameter set(s) 326, either directly from the CBRS signal node 304 orindirectly via the CBRS service node 324. The CBSD parameter set(s) 326may include parameters such as the CBSD cell identification associatedwith the CBRS signal node 304, the CBRS channels CH₁-CH_(M), a requestedauthorization status, a user contact information, a call sign, an airinterface technology, a geographic location, an antenna heightabove-ground-level, a CBSD Category A class information, a CBSD CategoryB class information, an FCC identification number, a uniquemanufacturer's serial number, and/or information related to sensingcapabilities. The CBRS control circuit 314 may be configured to includethe CBSD parameter set(s) 326 in each of the CBRS parameter sets320(1)-320(N). In this regard, the CBRS parameter sets 320(1)-320(N) mayinclude parameters specific to the remote units 306(1)-306(N) as well asparameters specific to the CBRS signal node 304. Although the CBRSsignal node 304 and the CBRS service node 324 are shown as separateelements, it should be appreciated that it may also be possible tointegrate the CBRS signal node 304 and the CBRS service node 324 into asingle box, such as a virtual baseband unit (vBBU). Notably, the CBRSsignal node 304 may be part of a radio access network (RAN), dependingon how different layers of the RAN are partitioned. For example, in afifth-generation (5G) RAN, the CBRS signal node 304 can provided in a 5Gcentral unit (CU) or a 5G distributed unit (DU).

Based on the CBRS parameter sets 320(1)-320(N) received from the CBRScontrol circuit 314, the SAS 312 may determine the CBRS configurationparameter set(s) 318 in accordance to the FCC requirements and providesthe CBRS configuration parameter set(s) 318 to the CBRS control circuit314. Accordingly, the CBRS control circuit 314 can cause the routingcircuit 302, the CBRS signal node 304, and/or the remote units306(1)-306(N) to operate based on the CBRS configuration parameterset(s) 318.

The CBRS control circuit 314 may be configured to bridge thecommunications between the SAS 312 and the remote units 306(1)-306(N)based on a process. In this regard, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of anexemplary process 400 that can be employed by the CBRS control circuit314 in the DCS 300 to support CBRS in compliance with the FCCrequirements.

According to the process 400, the CBRS control circuit 314 can beconfigured to generate the CBRS parameter sets 320(1)-320(N) to uniquelyidentify the remote units 306(1)-306(N), each configured to communicatethe downlink communications signal 308D and the uplink communicationssignal 308U in the CBRS channels CH₁-CH_(M), as the virtual CBSDs,respectively (block 402). The CBRS control circuit 314 can be furtherconfigured to communicate the CBRS parameter sets 320(1)-320(N) to theSAS 312 (block 404). The CBRS control circuit 314 can be furtherconfigured to receive the CBRS configuration parameter set(s) 318corresponding to the selected remote unit(s) among the remote units306(1)-306(N) (block 406). The CBRS control circuit 314 can be furtherconfigured to cause the selected remote unit(s) to operate based on theCBRS configuration parameter set(s) 318 (block 408).

With reference back to FIG. 3, the CBRS control circuit 314 can causethe routing circuit 302, the CBRS signal node 304, and/or the remoteunits 306(1)-306(N) to operate based on the CBRS configuration parameterset(s) 318 in a number of different ways. Specific non-limiting examplesof configuration and operation scenarios are discussed next.

In one non-limiting example, the SAS 312 may generate the CBRSconfiguration parameter set(s) 318 to eliminate a selected CBRSchannel(s) among the CBRS channels CH₁-CN_(M) from the DCS 300. In thisregard, in one embodiment, the CBRS control circuit 314 can beconfigured to cause the CBRS signal node 304 to stop communicating thedownlink communications signal 308D and the uplink communications signal308U in the selected CBRS channel(s). In another embodiment, the CBRScontrol circuit 314 can be configured to cause the routing circuit 302to stop routing the downlink communications signal 308D and the uplinkcommunications signal 308U in the selected CBRS channel(s). In anotherembodiment, the CBRS control circuit 314 can be configured to cause theremote units 306(1)-306(N) to stop communicating the downlinkcommunications signal 308D and the uplink communications signal 308U inthe selected CBRS channel(s). In another embodiment, the CBRS controlcircuit 314 can be configured to cause the CBRS signal node 304, therouting circuit 302, as well as the remote units 306(1)-306(N) to stopcommunicating/routing the downlink communications signal 308D and theuplink communications signal 308U in the selected CBRS channel(s). Inyet another embodiment, the SAS 312 may provide the CBRS configurationparameter set(s) 318 directly to the CBRS signal node 304 and/or therouting circuit 302 to eliminate the selected CBRS channel(s).

In another non-limiting example, the SAS 312 may generate the CBRSconfiguration parameter set(s) 318 to eliminate the selected CBRSchannel(s) among the CBRS channels CH₁-CN_(M) from the selected remoteunit(s) in the DCS 300. In this regard, in one embodiment, the CBRScontrol circuit 314 can be configured to cause the routing circuit 302to stop routing the downlink communications signal 308D to the selectedremote unit(s) in the selected CBRS channel(s) and stop providing theuplink communications signal 308U received from the selected remoteunit(s) in the selected CBRS channel(s) to the CBRS signal node 304. Inanother embodiment, the CBRS control circuit 314 can be configured tocause the selected remote unit(s) to stop communicating the downlinkcommunications signal 308D and the uplink communications signal 308U inthe selected CBRS channel(s). In another embodiment, the CBRS controlcircuit 314 can be configured to cause the routing circuit 302 and theselected remote unit(s) to stop routing/communicating the downlinkcommunications signal 308D and the uplink communications signal 3081 inthe selected CBRS channel(s).

As mentioned earlier, the remote units 306(1)-306(N) may be clustered(e.g., logically grouped) based on coverage and/or throughputrequirements of the DCS 300. As such, an elimination of the selectedCBRS channel(s) from the selected remote unit(s) may cause reclusteringof the remote units 306(1)-306(N) in the DCS 300.

In this regard, FIGS. 5A-5C are schematic diagrams providing anexemplary illustration of clustering and reclustering of the remoteunits 306(1)-306(N) in the DCS 300 of FIG. 3. For the sake of clarity.FIGS. 5A-5C are described herein with reference to the remote units306(1)-306(8) among the remote units 306(1)-306(N).

FIG. 5A provides an exemplary illustration of the remote units306(1)-306(8) as the DCS 300 is initialized. As shown in FIG. 5A, theremote units 306(1)-306(8) are grouped into a first cluster 500 and asecond cluster 502. The first cluster 500 includes the remote units306(1), 306(2), 306(5), and 306(6). The second cluster 502 includes theremote units 306(3), 306(4), 306(7), and 306(8). All of the remote units306(1)-306(8) are configured to communicate in the CBRS channels CHI,CH₂, and CH₃ among the CBRS channels CH₁-CH_(M).

FIG. 5B provides an exemplary illustration of reclustering of the remoteunits 306(1)-306(8) upon elimination of the selected CBRS channel(s) CH₃from the selected remote unit(s) 306(5)-306(8). As shown in FIG. 5B, theremote units 306(1)-306(8) are reclustered into a first cluster 504 anda second cluster 506. The first cluster 504 includes the remote units306(1)-304(4) that are configured to continue communicating on the CBRSchannels CHI, CH₂, and CH₃. The second cluster 506 includes the remoteunits 306(5)-304(8) that are configured to continue communicating on theCBRS channels CH₁ and CH₂. In this regard, each of the first cluster 504and the second cluster 506 can include remote units communicating inidentical CBRS channels.

FIG. 5C provides another exemplary illustration of reclustering of theremote units 306(1)-306(8) upon elimination of the selected CBRSchannel(s) CH₃ from the selected remote unit(s) 306(5)-306(8). As shownin FIG. 5C, there is no change to the first cluster 500 and the secondcluster 502, as previously illustrated in FIG. 5A, after the selectedCBRS channel(s) CH₃ is eliminated from the selected remote unit(s)306(5)-306(8). In this regard, each of the first cluster 500 and thesecond cluster 502 can include remote units communicating in differentCBRS channels.

With reference back to FIG. 3, in another non-limiting example, the SAS312 may generate the CBRS configuration parameter set(s) 318 to adjustmaximum transmission power of the selected remote unit(s). In thisregard, the CBRS control circuit 314 may compare the maximumtransmission power provided by the SAS 312 with a current transmissionpower of the selected remote unit(s). If the maximum transmission poweris higher than the current transmission power of the selected remoteunit(s), the CBRS control circuit 314 may cause (e.g., via the routingcircuit 302) the selected remote unit(s) to increase the currenttransmission power to the maximum transmission power indicated by theSAS 312. In contrast, if the maximum transmission power is lower thanthe current transmission power of the selected remote unit(s), the CBRScontrol circuit 314 may cause (e.g., via the routing circuit 302) theselected remote unit(s) to decrease the current transmission power tothe maximum transmission power indicated by the SAS 312. If the maximumtransmission power equals the current transmission power of the selectedremote unit(s), the CBRS control circuit 314 may cause (e.g., via therouting circuit 302) the selected remote unit(s) to maintain the currenttransmission power.

The DCS 300 may be configured to provide and support any type ofcommunications services and/or other communications services beyondCBRS. The communications circuits may support other RF communicationsservices, which may include, but are not limited to. US FCC and IndustryCanada frequencies (824-849 MHz on uplink and 869-894 MHz on downlink),US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (1850-1915 MHz on uplink and1930-1995 MHz on downlink), US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies(1710-1755 MHz on uplink and 2110-2155 MHz on downlink), US FCCfrequencies (698-716 MHz and 776-787 MHz on uplink and 728-746 MHz ondownlink), EU R & TIE frequencies (880-915 MHz on uplink and 925-960 MHzon downlink), EU R & TTE frequencies (1710-1785 MHz on uplink and1805-1880 MHz on downlink), EU R & TTE frequencies (1920-1980 MHz onuplink and 2110-2170 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (806-824 MHzon uplink and 851-869 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (896-901 MHzon uplink and 929-941 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (793-805 MHzon uplink and 763-775 MHz on downlink), and US FCC frequencies(2495-2690 MHz on uplink and downlink), medical telemetry frequencies,WLAN, CBRS, WiMax, WiFi, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), mmWave spectrum,5G (NR), and LTE, etc.

The DCS 300 configured to support CBRS can also be interfaced withdifferent types of radio nodes of service providers and/or supportingservice providers, including macrocell systems, small cell systems, andremote radio heads (RRH) systems, as examples. For example, FIG. 6 is aschematic diagram of an exemplary mobile telecommunications environment600 (also referred to as “environment 600”) that includes radio nodesand cells that may support shared spectrum, such as unlicensed spectrum,and can be interfaced to a shared spectrum DCSs 601 supportingcoordination of distribution of shared spectrum from multiple serviceproviders to remote units to be distributed to subscriber devices. Theshared spectrum DCSs 601 can include the DCS 300 of FIG. 3 as anexample.

The environment 600 includes exemplary macrocell RANs 602(1)-602(M)(“macrocells 602(1)-602(M)”) and an exemplary small cell RAN 604 locatedwithin an enterprise environment 606 and configured to service mobilecommunications between a user mobile communications device 608(1)-608(N)to a mobile network operator (MNO) 610. A serving RAN for a user mobilecommunications device 608(1)-608(N) is a RAN or cell in the RAN in whichthe user mobile communications devices 608(1)-608(N) have an establishedcommunications session with the exchange of mobile communicationssignals for mobile communications. Thus, a serving RAN may also bereferred to herein as a serving cell. For example, the user mobilecommunications devices 608(3)-608(N) in FIG. 6 are being serviced by thesmall cell RAN 604, whereas user mobile communications devices 608(1)and 608(2) are being serviced by the macrocell 602. The macrocell 602 isan MNO macrocell in this example. However, a shared spectrum RAN 603(also referred to as “shared spectrum cell 603”) includes a macrocell inthis example and supports communications on frequencies that are notsolely licensed to a particular MNO, such as CBRS for example, and thusmay service user mobile communications devices 608(1)-608(N) independentof a particular MNO. For example, the shared spectrum cell 603 may beoperated by a third party that is not an MNO and wherein the sharedspectrum cell 603 supports CBRS. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the MNOmacrocell 602, the shared spectrum cell 603, and/or the small cell RAN604 can interface with a shared spectrum DCS 601 supporting coordinationof distribution of shared spectrum from multiple service providers toremote units to be distributed to subscriber devices. The MNO macrocell602, the shared spectrum cell 603, and the small cell RAN 604 may beneighboring radio access systems to each other, meaning that some or allcan be in proximity to each other such that a user mobile communicationsdevice 608(3)-608(N) may be able to be in communications range of two ormore of the MNO macrocell 602, the shared spectrum cell 603, and thesmall cell RAN 604 depending on the location of user mobilecommunications devices 608(3)-608(N).

In FIG. 6, the mobile telecommunications environment 600 in this exampleis arranged as an LTE (Long Term Evolution) system as described by theThird Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as an evolution of theGSM/UMTS standards (Global System for Mobile communication/UniversalMobile Telecommunications System). It is emphasized, however, that theaspects described herein may also be applicable to other network typesand protocols, such as fifth-generation (5G) and/or 5G new radio (5G-NR)networks. The mobile telecommunications environment 600 includes theenterprise 606 in which the small cell RAN 604 is implemented. The smallcell RAN 604 includes a plurality of small cell radio nodes612(1)-612(C). Each small cell radio node 612(1)-612(C) has a radiocoverage area (graphically depicted in the drawings as a hexagonalshape) that is commonly termed a “small cell.” A small cell may also bereferred to as a femtocell or, using terminology defined by 3GPP, as aHome Evolved Node B (HeNB). In the description that follows, the term“cell” typically means the combination of a radio node and its radiocoverage area unless otherwise indicated.

In FIG. 6, the small cell RAN 604 includes one or more services nodes(represented as a single services node 614) that manage and control thesmall cell radio nodes 612(1)-612(C). In alternative implementations,the management and control functionality may be incorporated into aradio node, distributed among nodes, or implemented remotely (i.e.,using infrastructure external to the small cell RAN 604). The small cellradio nodes 612(1)-612(C) are coupled to the services node 614 over adirect or local area network (LAN) connection 616 as an example,typically using secure IPsec tunnels. The small cell radio nodes612(1)-612(C) can include multi-operator radio nodes. The services node614 aggregates voice and data traffic from the small cell radio nodes612(1)-612(C) and provides connectivity over an IPsec tunnel to asecurity gateway (SeGW) 618 in a network 620 (e.g., evolved packet core(EPC) network in a 4G network, or 5G Core in a 5G network) of the MNO610. The network 620 is typically configured to communicate with apublic switched telephone network (PSTN) 622 to carry circuit-switchedtraffic, as well as for communicating with an external packet-switchednetwork such as the Internet 624.

The environment 600 also generally includes a node (e.g., eNodeB orgNodeB) base station, or “macrocell” 602. The radio coverage area of themacrocell 602 is typically much larger than that of a small cell wherethe extent of coverage often depends on the base station configurationand surrounding geography. Thus, a given user mobile communicationsdevice 608(3)-608(N) may achieve connectivity to the network 620 (e.g.,EPC network in a 4G network, or 5G Core in a 5G network) through eithera macrocell 602 or small cell radio node 612(1)-612(C) in the small cellRAN 604 in the environment 600.

Any of the circuits in the DCS 300 of FIG. 3 (e.g., the CBRS controlcircuit 314) can include a computer system 700, such as shown in FIG. 7,to carry out their functions and operations. With reference to FIG. 7,the computer system 700 includes a set of instructions for causing themulti-operator radio node component(s) to provide its designedfunctionality, and their circuits discussed above. The multi-operatorradio node component(s) may be connected (e.g., networked) to othermachines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet. Themulti-operator radio node component(s) may operate in a client-servernetwork environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (ordistributed) network environment. While only a single device isillustrated, the term “device” shall also be taken to include anycollection of devices that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein. The multi-operator radio nodecomponent(s) may be a circuit or circuits included in an electronicboard card, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) as an example, aserver, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a computing pad, a mobile device, orany other device, and may represent, for example, a server, edgecomputer, or a user's computer. The exemplary computer system 700 inthis embodiment includes a processing circuit or processor 702, a mainmemory 704 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), etc.), and astatic memory 706 (e.g., flash memory, static random access memory(SRAM), etc.), which may communicate with each other via a data bus 708.Alternatively, the processing circuit 702 may be connected to the mainmemory 704 and/or static memory 706 directly or via some otherconnectivity means. The processing circuit 702 may be a controller, andthe main memory 704 or static memory 706 may be any type of memory.

The processing circuit 702 represents one or more general-purposeprocessing circuits such as a microprocessor, central processing unit,or the like. More particularly, the processing circuit 702 may be acomplex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reducedinstruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instructionword (VLIW) microprocessor, a processor implementing other instructionsets, or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Theprocessing circuit 702 is configured to execute processing logic ininstructions 716 for performing the operations and steps discussedherein.

The computer system 700 may further include a network interface device710. The computer system 700 also may or may not include an input 712 toreceive input and selections to be communicated to the computer system700 when executing instructions. The computer system 700 also may or maynot include an output 714, including but not limited to a display, avideo display unit (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathoderay tube (CRT)), an alphanumeric input device (e.g., a keyboard), and/ora cursor control device (e.g., a mouse).

The computer system 700 may or may not include a data storage devicethat includes instructions 716 stored in a computer-readable medium 718.The instructions 716 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 704 and/or within the processing circuit 702during execution thereof by the computer system 700, the main memory 704and the processing circuit 702 also constituting computer-readablemedium. The instructions 716 may further be transmitted or received overa network 720 via the network interface device 710.

While the computer-readable medium 718 is shown in an exemplaryembodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any mediumthat is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructionsfor execution by the processing circuit and that cause the processingcircuit to perform any one or more of the methodologies of theembodiments disclosed herein. The term “computer-readable medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical and magnetic medium, and carrier wave signals.

Note that as an example, any “ports,” “combiners,” “splitters,” andother “circuits” mentioned in this description may be implemented usingField Programmable Logic Array(s) (FPGA(s)) and/or a digital signalprocessor(s) (DSP(s)), and therefore, may be embedded within the FPGA orbe performed by computational processes.

The embodiments disclosed herein include various steps. The steps of theembodiments disclosed herein may be performed by hardware components ormay be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used tocause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with theinstructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may beperformed by a combination of hardware and software.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer programproduct, or software, that may include a machine-readable medium (orcomputer-readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which maybe used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) toperform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein. Amachine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing ortransmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). For example, a machine-readable medium includes amachine-readable storage medium (e.g., read only memory (“ROM”), randomaccess memory (“RAM”), magnetic disk storage medium, optical storagemedium, flash memory devices, etc.).

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A controllermay be a processor. A processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and ininstructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example,in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory. Read Only Memory (ROM),Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically ErasableProgrammable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable medium known in the art.An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC. The ASIC may reside in a remote station. In the alternative, theprocessor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in aremote station, base station, or server.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that anymethod set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps beperformed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim doesnot actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is nototherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that thesteps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended thatany particular order be inferred. It will be apparent to those skilledin the art that various modifications and variations can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Since modificationscombinations, sub-combinations and variations of the disclosedembodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention mayoccur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construedto include everything within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A distributed communications system (DCS),comprising: a routing circuit corresponding to at least one citizensband radio service (CBRS) device (CBSD) cell identification, the routingcircuit coupled to a plurality of remote units configured to communicateat least one downlink communications signal and at least one uplinkcommunications signal in one or more CBRS channels; and a CBRS controlcircuit coupled to the routing circuit, the CBRS control circuitconfigured to: generate a plurality of CBRS parameter sets configured touniquely identify the plurality of remote units as a plurality ofvirtual CBSDs, respectively; communicate the plurality of CBRS parametersets to a spectrum access system (SAS) coupled to the CBRS controlcircuit; receive at least one CBRS configuration parameter setcorresponding to at least one selected remote unit among the pluralityof remote units from the SAS; and provide the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set to the routing circuit to cause the at leastone selected remote unit to operate based on the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set.
 2. The DCS of claim 1, further comprisingthe plurality of remote units.
 3. The DCS of claim 1, wherein therouting circuit is further configured to: receive a plurality of remoteunit parameter sets from the plurality of remote units, respectively;provide the plurality of remote unit parameter sets to the CBRS controlcircuit; receive the at least one CBRS configuration parameter set fromthe CBRS control circuit; and provide the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set to the at least one selected remote unit. 4.The DCS of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of remote unitparameter sets comprises at least one parameter selected from the groupconsisting of: a remote unit location number, a remote unit serialidentification, and a remote unit antenna above-ground-level (AGL). 5.The DCS of claim 3, wherein the CBRS control circuit is configured togenerate the plurality of CBRS parameter sets comprising the pluralityof remote unit parameter sets, respectively.
 6. The DCS of claim 5,further comprising at least one CBRS signal node associated with the atleast one CBSD cell identification and coupled to the routing circuitand the CBRS control circuit, the at least one CBRS signal nodeconfigured to: provide the at least one downlink communications signalto the routing circuit for distribution to the plurality of remoteunits, and receive the at least one uplink communications signal fromthe plurality of remote units via the routing circuit.
 7. The DCS ofclaim 6, further comprising at least one CBRS service node coupledbetween the at least one CBRS signal node and the CBRS control circuit,the at least one CBRS service node configured to facilitatecommunications between the at least one CBRS signal node and the CBRScontrol circuit.
 8. The DCS of claim 6, wherein the CBRS control circuitis further configured to receive at least one CBSD parameter set fromthe at least one CBRS signal node.
 9. The DCS of claim 8, wherein the atleast one CBSD parameter set comprises at least one parameter selectedfrom the group consisting of: the at least one CBSD cell identification,the one or more CBRS channels, a requested authorization status, a callsign, a user contact information, an air interface technology, ageographic location, an antenna height above-ground-level, a CBSDCategory A class information, a CBSD Category B class information, aFederal Communications Commission (FCC) identification number, a uniquemanufacturer's serial number, and information related to sensingcapabilities.
 10. The DCS of claim 8, wherein the CBRS control circuitis configured to generate the plurality of CBRS parameter sets eachcomprising the at least one CBSD parameter set.
 11. The DCS of claim 6,wherein the CBRS control circuit is further configured to: receive theat least one CBRS configuration parameter set comprising an instructionto eliminate a selected CBRS channel among the one or more CBRS channelsfrom the DCS; and cause the at least one CBRS signal node to stopcommunicating the at least one downlink communications signal and the atleast one uplink communications signal in the selected CBRS channel. 12.The DCS of claim 6, wherein the CBRS control circuit is furtherconfigured to: receive the at least one CBRS configuration parameter setcomprising an instruction to eliminate a selected CBRS channel among theone or more CBRS channels from the DCS; and cause the routing circuit tostop routing the at least one downlink communications signal and the atleast one uplink communications signal in the selected CBRS channel. 13.The DCS of claim 6, wherein the CBRS control circuit is furtherconfigured to: receive the at least one CBRS configuration parameter setcomprising an instruction to eliminate a selected CBRS channel among theone or more CBRS channels from the DCS; and cause the plurality ofremote units to stop communicating the at least one downlinkcommunications signal and the at least one uplink communications signalin the selected CBRS channel.
 14. The DCS of claim 6, wherein the CBRScontrol circuit is further configured to: receive the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set comprising an instruction to eliminate aselected CBRS channel among the one or more CBRS channels from the atleast one selected remote unit; cause the routing circuit to stopcommunicating the at least one downlink communications signal to the atleast one selected remote unit in the selected CBRS channel; and causethe routing circuit to stop providing the at least one uplinkcommunications signal received from the at least one selected remoteunit in the selected CBRS channel to the at least one CBRS signal node.15. The DCS of claim 6, wherein the CBRS control circuit is furtherconfigured to: receive the at least one CBRS configuration parameter setcomprising an instruction to eliminate a selected CBRS channel among theone or more CBRS channels from the at least one selected remote unit;and cause the at least one selected remote unit to stop communicatingthe at least one downlink communications signal and the at least oneuplink communications signal in the selected CBRS channel.
 16. The DCSof claim 6, wherein the CBRS control circuit is further configured to:receive the at least one CBRS configuration parameter set comprising aninstruction to eliminate a selected CBRS channel among the one or moreCBRS channels from the at least one selected remote unit; cause therouting circuit to stop routing the at least one downlink communicationssignal to the at least one selected remote unit in the selected CBRSchannel: cause the routing circuit to stop providing the at least oneuplink communications signal received from the at least one selectedremote unit in the selected CBRS channel to the at least one CBRS signalnode; and cause the at least one selected remote unit to stopcommunicating the at least one downlink communications signal and the atleast one uplink communications signal in the selected CBRS channel. 17.The DCS of claim 6, wherein the CBRS control circuit is furtherconfigured to: receive the at least one CBRS configuration parameter setcomprising an instruction to eliminate a selected CBRS channel among theone or more CBRS channels from the at least one selected remote unit;and cluster the at least one selected remote unit with at least oneother remote unit among the plurality of remote units, wherein the atleast one selected remote unit and the at least one other remote unitare configured to communicate the at least one downlink communicationssignal and the at least one uplink communications signal in one or moreidentical CBRS channels.
 18. The DCS of claim 6, wherein the CBRScontrol circuit is further configured to: receive the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set comprising an instruction to eliminate aselected CBRS channel among the one or more CBRS channels from the atleast one selected remote unit; and cluster the at least one selectedremote unit with at least one other remote unit among the plurality ofremote units, wherein the at least one selected remote unit and the atleast one other remote unit are configured to communicate the at leastone downlink communications signal and the at least one uplinkcommunications signal in one or more different CBRS channels.
 19. TheDCS of claim 6, wherein the CBRS control circuit is further configuredto: receive the at least one CBRS configuration parameter set comprisinga maximum transmission power for the at least one selected remote unit;determine whether the at least one selected remote unit is transmittingin a transmission power higher than the maximum transmission power;cause the at least one selected remote unit to reduce the transmissionpower in response to the transmission power being higher than themaximum transmission power; cause the at least one selected remote unitto increase the transmission power in response to the transmission powerbeing lower than the maximum transmission power; and cause the at leastone selected remote unit to maintain the transmission power in responseto the transmission power being equal to the maximum transmission power.20. A method for supporting citizens band radio service (CBRS) in adistributed communications system (DCS), comprising: generating aplurality of CBRS parameter sets configured to uniquely identify aplurality of remote units in the DCS as a plurality of virtual CBRSdevices (CBSDs), respectively, wherein the plurality of remote units isconfigured to communicate at least one downlink communications signaland at least one uplink communications signal in one or more CBRSchannels; communicating the plurality of CBRS parameter sets to aspectrum access system (SAS); receiving at least one CBRS configurationparameter set corresponding to at least one selected remote unit amongthe plurality of remote units from the SAS; and causing the at least oneselected remote unit to operate based on the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set.
 21. The method of claim 20, furthercomprising: receiving a plurality of remote unit parameter sets from theplurality of remote units, respectively; and generating the plurality ofCBRS parameter sets comprising the plurality of remote unit parametersets, respectively.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:receiving at least one CBSD parameter set from at least one CBRS signalnode in the DCS; and generating the plurality of CBRS parameter setseach comprising the at least one CBSD parameter set.
 23. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising: receiving the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set comprising an instruction to eliminate aselected CBRS channel among the one or more CBRS channels from the DCS;and causing at least one CBRS signal node in the DCS to stopcommunicating the at least one downlink communications signal and the atleast one uplink communications signal in the selected CBRS channel. 24.The method of claim 20, further comprising: receiving the at least oneCBRS configuration parameter set comprising an instruction to eliminatea selected CBRS channel among the one or more CBRS channels from theDCS; and causing a routing circuit in the DCS to stop routing the atleast one downlink communications signal and the at least one uplinkcommunications signal in the selected CBRS channel.
 25. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising: receiving the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set comprising an instruction to eliminate aselected CBRS channel among the one or more CBRS channels from the DCS;and causing the plurality of remote units to stop communicating the atleast one downlink communications signal and the at least one uplinkcommunications signal in the selected CBRS channel.
 26. The method ofclaim 20, further comprising: receiving the at least one CBRSconfiguration parameter set comprising an instruction to eliminate aselected CBRS channel among the one or more CBRS channels from the atleast one selected remote unit; causing a routing circuit in the DCS tostop communicating the at least one downlink communications signal tothe at least one selected remote unit in the selected CBRS channel; andcausing the routing circuit to stop providing the at least one uplinkcommunications signal received from the at least one selected remoteunit in the selected CBRS channel to at least one CBRS signal node inthe DCS.
 27. The method of claim 20, further comprising: receiving theat least one CBRS configuration parameter set comprising an instructionto eliminate a selected CBRS channel among the one or more CBRS channelsfrom the at least one selected remote unit; and causing the at least oneselected remote unit to stop communicating the at least one downlinkcommunications signal and the at least one uplink communications signalin the selected CBRS channel.
 28. The method of claim 20, furthercomprising: receiving the at least one CBRS configuration parameter setcomprising an instruction to eliminate a selected CBRS channel among theone or more CBRS channels from the at least one selected remote unit;causing a routing circuit in the DCS to stop routing the at least onedownlink communications signal to the at least one selected remote unitin the selected CBRS channel; causing the routing circuit to stopproviding the at least one uplink communications signal received fromthe at least one selected remote unit in the selected CBRS channel to atleast one CBRS signal node in the DCS; and causing the at least oneselected remote unit to stop communicating the at least one downlinkcommunications signal and the at least one uplink communications signalin the selected CBRS channel.
 29. The method of claim 20, furthercomprising: receiving the at least one CBRS configuration parameter setcomprising an instruction to eliminate a selected CBRS channel among theone or more CBRS channels from the at least one selected remote unit;and clustering the at least one selected remote unit with at least oneother remote unit among the plurality of remote units, wherein the atleast one selected remote unit and the at least one other remote unitare configured to communicate the at least one downlink communicationssignal and the at least one uplink communications signal in one or moreidentical CBRS channels.
 30. The method of claim 20, further comprising:receiving the at least one CBRS configuration parameter set comprisingan instruction to eliminate a selected CBRS channel among the one ormore CBRS channels from the at least one selected remote unit; andclustering the at least one selected remote unit with at least one otherremote unit among the plurality of remote units, wherein the at leastone selected remote unit and the at least one other remote unit areconfigured to communicate the at least one downlink communicationssignal and the at least one uplink communications signal in one or moredifferent CBRS channels.
 31. The method of claim 20, further comprising:receiving the at least one CBRS configuration parameter set comprising amaximum transmission power for the at least one selected remote unit;determining whether the at least one selected remote unit istransmitting in a transmission power higher than the maximumtransmission power; causing the at least one selected remote unit toreduce the transmission power in response to the transmission powerbeing higher than the maximum transmission power; causing the at leastone selected remote unit to increase the transmission power in responseto the transmission power being lower than the maximum transmissionpower; and causing the at least one selected remote unit to maintain thetransmission power in response to the transmission power being equal tothe maximum transmission power.